Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can You Name the Battles That These War Ships Helped Fight?

Tasha Moore

Image: U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

About This Quiz

The greatest battles have been fought by land, air and sea. We want you to brush up on significant sea clashes with this history challenge. The intriguing nautical fortresses of the past and present that we include in this quiz are sure to float your boat!

After engaging this epic ship-battles challenge, you'll gain a better appreciation for the sea vessels that protect the world's shores. Warships are designed to move with ease, speed and accuracy to best respond to national security threats or to maintain order. Nineteenth-century ships were engineered to fight the War of 1812, the American Revolutionary War, the American Civil War and piracy. Yes! Sea piracy was a major concern in colonial times when rogue private contractors set out to intercept the transference of material goods or slaves that were regularly transported by way of the high seas. If you imagine a world without next-day delivery service and airplanes, you'll start to understand why piracy was such a lucrative business back in the maritime day.

Territories continue to protect financial as well as national interests using well-armed frigates with scopes strong enough to detect enemies on land and in the air, as well as in the oceans. Airplane carriers, oil tankers, amphibious attack vessels and an assortment of other watercraft comprise the world's fleet of ships that have battled things out at one time or another.

It's time that you nail the names of battles that these mighty boats helped to fight. So set sail after a scroll. Bon Voyage!

SMS Kaiser Karl der Grosse was one of five in the Kaiser class fleet of ships that were released between 1896 and 1900. When it was constructed, the warship's electric machines and triple-piston expansion engines were considered highly technological hardware.

Japanese Navy via Wiki Commons

The Wakamiya was a Japanese seaplane carrier involved in the ________?

Siege of Tsingtao

Crazy Snake Rebellion

Boxer Rebellion

Philippine-American War

The Japanese Wakamiya warship facilitated the first-ever sea-launched air strike during the Siege of Tsingtao on September 5, 1914, during World War I. Farman aircraft from the vessel aided in securing Tsingtao, a German naval base in China.

Division of Naval Inteligence of the Navy Department of the United States via Wiki Commons

The Dunkerque was outnumbered in the only battle action it saw. Name the conflict?

Russian Civil War

World War II

Crazy Snake Rebellion

Spanish-American War

The Dunkerque was considered a battlecruiser and not a battleship. Both the HMS Hood and the HMS Ark Royal bombarded the Dunkerque at Mers el Kebir in Algeria during World War II.

Peabody Essex Museum via Wiki Commons

Choose the skirmish where the British secured the Young Anaconda vessel?

Texas-Indian Wars

War of 1812

Korean War

Vietnam War

Young Anaconda was an American ship classified as a privateer and was sunk by the British and later set ablaze. The British initially tried to seize the 300-ton ship before it sank during a failed tow attempt.

Wiki Commons by PH2 TRACY LEE DIDAS

Is it difficult for you to guess the war fought by the Argentine Navy frigate Almirante Brown?

Border War

Persian Gulf War

Boxer Rebellion

Philippine-American War

President Carlos Menem of Argentina sent the Almirante Brown along with three other warships to Iraq to assist the United States during the Persian Gulf War. The Almirante Brown is the first non-NATO ship to serve with a United States Carrier Strike Group.

Imperial War Museum via Wiki Commons

Bretagne was a battleship named for the Brittany, France province and fought a sea fleet in ________?

Bluff War

World War I

Moro Rebellion

Spanish-American War

The Lorraine and the Provence were sister ships of the French Bretagne, all of which were laid down in 1912. The Bretagne was completed in 1916 and was commissioned to restrain the Austro-Hungarian fleet in the Adriatic Sea during World War I.

Wiki commons

There have been at least four Italian carriers with the name Caio Duilio. A so-named battleship commissioned in 1915 clashed with enemies in ________?

World War I

Tecumseh's War

Quasi-War

American Revolutionary War

Italian Duilio-named vessels also include the Caio Duilio destroyer commissioned in 2009 and SS Duilio, the first super cruiser produced by Italy which set sail from Naples to New York on October 29, 1923, for its maiden voyage.

Wiki Commons by Kosi Gramatikoff

The Drazki frigate signified Bulgaria's attempt to modernize its war arsenal. When did Drazki see action?

Philippine-American War

Spanish-American War

World War II

White River War

Belgium produced 2,000-ton Drazki concepts for the Wielingen class of warships in the late '70s. The Drazki and others in its class can be outfitted with short-range air-defense missiles and other anti-ship artillery.

Wiki Commons by B. Weyer

Germany sank HNMS Eidsvold during which struggle?

Philippine-American War

Second Samoan Civil War

Garza Revolution

World War II

German destroyers packing five-inch guns successfully sank the Eidsvold along with its torpedoes and 8.2-inch guns during the war. The 4,000-ton Eidsvold was intended to serve as a guard ship of the Norwegian coast.

Wiki Commons by GooGooDoll2

American military muscle sank the Akitsushima at Coron Bay in September 1944. This event happened during what major conflict?

Victorio's War

Bannock War

World War II

Buffalo Hunters' War

The Akitsushima was a Japanese seaplane tender during the war. The vessel is one of several at the shipwreck diving sites of Coron Bay in the Philippines. Licensed divers are allowed to swim through the underwater 486-foot wreckage to view its four engines in the engine room.

U.S. National Archives via Wiki Commons

USS Lynx was engineered at Georgetown in D.C. for the Navy. Can you guess the altercation?

Tecumseh's War

War of 1812

First Barbary War

Quasi-War

The 80-foot topsail ship was built specifically for the War of 1812 but was commissioned at the very end of the war in 1815 and saw little to no action. USS Lynx's primary mission, after that, was to patrol the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico regions to combat rampant piracy.

U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

Select the conflict when a mine impaired USS Brush?

Russia Civil War

World War I

Bluff War

Korean War

USS Brush, with its five-inch guns, patrolled North Korea's eastern coast targeting North Korean supply vehicles and the bridges they traveled. A section of the USS Brush exploded on September 26, 1950, when the vessel hit a mine.

U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

Newburyport, Massachusetts produced USS Pickering in 1798 to engage in the ________?

Whiskey Rebellion

Quasi-War

Northwest Indian War

American Revolutionary War

USS Pickering went to service against the France fleet in the West Indies at the start of the Quasi-War. The ship disappeared after departing from Newcastle, Delaware bound for Guadeloupe on August 20, 1800.

New York Navy Yard via Wiki Commons

USS Cyclops is one of the U.S. Navy's most well-known "mystery ships." Determine the exact battle the vessel fought before disappearing?

Boxer Rebellion

World War I

Philippine-American War

Spanish-American War

USS Cyclops vanished after leaving Barbados on March 4, 1918; the ship was expected to arrive at Baltimore, Maryland on March 13. Before the vessel set sail on the mystery voyage, the ship's captain, George W. Worley, had complained of engine damage.

The 171-ton USS Grampus fought in the War of 1812 and helped battle the Spanish Empire as part of a fleet with four other vessels that comprised the United States Navy's West Indies Squadron.

Wiki Commons by Abel Bowen

A U.S. president had something to say about the disappearance of the 509-ton USS Wasp. Do you identify the correct war?

War of 1812

Tecumseh's War

Quasi-War

Northwest Indian War

A monumental fight with HMS Reindeer defined USS Wasp's career. The Wasp was in service for a brief time in 1814 before vanishing at sea. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt said of the USS Wasp: "How she perished none ever knew, all that is certain is that she was never seen again."

Wiki Commons by J. Baillie and J. Sowle

USS Porpoise conducted several anti-piracy patrols. How well do you know the brawl it fought in?

Black Hawk War

Mexican War

Winnebago War

Arikara War

USS Porpoise was classified as a brigantine and began service patrolling piracy in 1936. Before and after the ship's 1847 stint in the Mexican War, it was used for anti-slavery missions until 1852.

U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

In 1949, USS Buchanan was loaned to Turkey after it battled in ________?

Russian Civil War

Bluff War

World War II

Border War

USS Buchanan became the Gelibolu when it was loaned to Turkey in 1949 after serving in the Second World War. The 1,620-ton Benson-Livermore-class destroyer won 15 battle stars for service in engagements such as the Battle of Guadalcanal.

U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

USS Forster fell into North Vietnamese possession. Which war did the ship fight in?

American Revolutionary War

Northwest Indian War

Vietnam War

Quasi-War

The North Vietnamese captured the USS Forster when the North seized South Vietnam on April 30, 1975. At the time of capture, the vessel was being serviced at the Saigon Shipyard. The ship was renamed to become RVNS Tran Khanh Do and has been used as a training vessel.

PH3 BRYANT, U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

USS New Jersey became a tourist attraction in October 2001. When was the vessel armed and ready for war?

Russian Civil War

Vietnam War

World War I

Bluff War

An Iowa-class battleship, 45,000-ton, 16-inch gunned USS New Jersey is a memorialized ship ported at the waterfront in Camden, New Jersey. It was the only Iowa-class ship recommissioned for service in Vietnam.

U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

The aircraft carrier USS Forrestal was stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin when tragedy struck. When did this take place?

Vietnam War

Korean War

World War II

Russian Civil War

On July 29, 1967, a rocket misfire caused a conflagration to erupt on USS Forrestal that took 18 hours to extinguish. The late U.S. Senator John McCain was aboard the ship at the time.

U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

USS Oriskany was named for a Revolutionary War battle. When did this ship see action at sea?

Vietnam War

World War I

Border War

Moro Rebellion

From September 1952 to May 1953, USS Oriskany engaged in one battle-cruise mission in the Korean War. However, the vessel saw most action during the Vietnam War. On October 26, 1966, a fire engulfed several decks on the USS Oriskany.

USS Bonhomme Richard is an assault ship used in the ________?

Tanker War

Invasion of Grenada

Lebanese Civil War

War in Afghanistan

Expansive storage space aboard USS Bonhomme Richard made the vessel a critical transport resource for supplies during the War in Afghanistan. USS Bonhomme Richard was sent to the Kandahar region in southern Afghanistan on December 1, 2002.

Wiki Commons by Fl295

SS American Victory, a cargo vessel, was engineered toward the end of what massive battle?

Russian Civil War

World War I

Philippine-American War

World War II

On June 20, 1945, California Shipbuilding Corp. set SS American Victory off to World War II as a cargo ship. After the war ended several months later, American Victory was used to transport supplies to countries affected by war.

U.S. federal government via Wiki Commons

USS Olympia was designated flagship on May 1, 1898. Do you guess the skirmish?

American Revolutionary War

American Civil War

Victorio's War

Spanish-American War

The USS Olympia has been stationed at Philadelphia's Penn's Landing on the Delaware River. The cruiser was instrumental in securing America's victory during the Battle of Manila Bay in the Philippines in May 1898.

Wiki Commons by Berean Hunter

CSS Albemarle was assembled in a cornfield near Edwards Ferry. Quickly pick its fight?

Dakota War of 1862

American Civil War

Yavapai Wars

Paiute War

When it was launched, CSS Albemarle was not finished. The 158-foot ram vessel was used to save Confederate troops engaged in battle with Union gunboats. Union ships retreated after the Albemarle rammed and sank USS Southfield.

Wiki Commons by Louis Prang & Co/Jo Davidson

In 2002, a crane lifted the 120-ton turret of USS Monitor from a watery grave. Guess the monumental battle?

American Civil War

Second Cortina War

Navajo Wars

Utah War

On December 31, 1862, USS Monitor sank near North Carolina's coast during a massive storm. Swedish-American engineer John Ericsson crafted the ship as the first marine vessel fueled by steam.

Wiki Commons by G.G. Pook

USS Merrimack eventually became CSS Virginia. When did it fight?

Mexican-American War

Second Seminole War

American Civil War

Black Hawk War

USS Merrimack, constructed at Elizabeth River, was recommissioned as CSS Virginia on March 8, 1862. The well-armored and highly weaponized ship destroyed wooden vessels commonly used in Union fleets.

Regia Marina via Wiki Commons

What is the name of the battle that the Novorossiysk helped fight?

World War II

Crazy Snake Rebellion

Moro Rebellion

Spanish-American War

The Russian Novorossiysk was formerly an Italian Conte di Cavour-class battleship. Leader of a Soviet fleet in the Black Sea, the 29,000-ton Novorossiysk sank in the port of Sevastopol a few hours after a mysterious explosion.

National Museum of the U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

USS Maine was lifted from Havana Harbor in 1912. Do you notice when it sank?

White River War

Sheepeater Indian War

Spanish-American War

Cheyenne War

While protecting American interests during the Spanish-American War, USS Maine sank after sustaining a massive blast in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. Experts could not determine whether the explosion was due to inadvertent shipboard ignition or from a Spanish mine.

Wiki Commons by Cook H E (Lt)

SS Ohio is known for rescuing the island of Malta during what conflict?

Bluff War

Russian Civil War

World War II

Spanish-American War

SS Ohio arrived at Malta on August 15, 1942, with 12,000 tons of much-needed supply fuel. Despite sustaining damage from three bombs and a projectile plane crash, the tanker completed its transport mission with the power support of HMS Ledbury and HMS Penn.

U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

There have been seven ships total with the name USS St. Louis. The vessel commissioned in 1938 fought in ________?

American Revolutionary War

American Civil War

World War II

Snake War

The USS St. Louis referenced here is the World War II light cruiser. USS St. Louis also manifested as a World War I cruiser, a Cold War cargo vessel, a Spanish-American War steamer and an American Civil War gunboat.

Naval Historical Center via Wiki Commons

USS Sacramento was assigned to defend Pearl Harbor in August 1941. What other task did the vessel engage in?

Yaqui Wars

Philippine-American War

Border War

World War I

As Japanese aircraft bombed Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USS Sacramento returned fire. The ship helped bring down enemy aircraft, and its crew assisted soldiers trapped in neighboring U.S. ships.

Wiki Commons by Leonard G.

SS Sapulpa Victory is one of four carriers that were christened with an Oklahoma name. The ship was commissioned in 1944, and it sailed to battle in which war, among the choices?

Russian Civil War

World War II

Bluff War

First Samoan Civil War

SS Sapulpa Victory was designed to be faster that the Liberty ships that carried supplies to the Allies during the war. The 455-foot-long Sapulpa cruised at 15 knots and was one of 534 vessels of the Victory class.

U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

Those who served on USS Maryland called the ship "Fighting Mary." How well do you know the battle brawled?

World War II

First Barbary War

War of 1812

Tecumseh's War

USS Maryland's primary function during the Second World War was to protect supply lines. The ship was not as fast as the more innovative vessels at the time. USS Maryland sustained damage as it returned enemy fire during the Pearl Harbor melee.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command via Wiki Commons

USS Tangier was launched as a cargo ship in September 1939 and waged war during ________?

World War II

Shay's Rebellion

Northwest Indian War

American Revolutionary War

The United States Navy acquired USS Tangier in July 1940 and transformed the vessel into a seaplane tender. Engineers outfitted the Tangier with necessary repair equipment in Oakland, California before putting it into service.

Wiki Commons by Gabriel Bertram Bellinghausen

Do you remember when gunboat USS Wheeling clashed with combatants?

Pine Ridge Campaign

Spanish-American War

Sheepeater Indian War

Nez Perce War

During the Spanish-American War, USS Wheeling was responsible for monitoring the waters of the North Pacific. After that, the 990-ton, Colt-machine-gun-carrying Wheeling sailed the seas of the Caribbean during the First World War.

U.S. Navy via Wiki Commons

Crew members dubbed USS Vestal "Mighty V." Try to ID the melee?

Philippine-American War

World War II

Yaqui Wars

Spanish-American War

When USS Arizona exploded during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, adjacent USS Vestal was pushed overboard. The vessel managed to sit upright again before firing at enemy combatants.

US Naval Historical Center via Wiki Commons

USS Hoga patrolled Hawaii during which war?

Northwest Indian War

American Revolutionary War

Quasi-War

World War II

USS Hoga's 15-man crew raced to save survivors and those wounded after the USS Arizona exploded at Pearl Harbor from the 1941 surprise strike. The vessel's role during the attack earned the Hoga U.S. National Landmark Status on June 30, 1989.

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